Valentine for humanity; Kate Lovelady, Leader

Wednesday of this past week was of course Valentine’s Day, and therefore the topic of love has been in the air. When we think of love we tend to think of close personal relationships, but what are the deeper connections between the human capacity for love and ethics? In this platform address, with the help of the words of poets, philosophers, and Ethical Culture leaders, we’ll explore the idea that ethics–underneath all the fancy jargon–is unconditional love for humanity, and that this love is the true common ground between religious idealism and secular utilitarianism. Perhaps it’s true that all we need is love.

“I truly feel that there are as many ways of loving as there are people in the world and as there are days in the life of those people.” – Mary S. Calderone

“If you were all alone in the universe with no one to talk to, no one with which to share the beauty of the stars, to laugh with, to touch, what would be your purpose in life? It is other life, it is love, which gives your life meaning. This is harmony. We must discover the joy of each other, the joy of challenge, the joy of growth.” – Matsugi Saotome